Brightlingsea River Colne ...............................................................Steve Fryett

although we did find two Black-necked Grebes, several Great Crested Grebes and a Goosander. A Peregrine, struggling with prey, flew across the reservoir and landed on the pumping station roof. We watched as it plucked, then devoured, its victim. After a quick snack at the cars, we walked across the Layer de la Haye causeway, picking up a few more waders: three Ruffs, Snipe and two Green Sandpiper; and the bay was full of Tufted Ducks, Pochards and Goldeneyes. Near Billets Farm a large flock of Golden Plovers flew overhead and we concentrated on this area looking for the Corn Buntings that are often around the farm or on the other side of the road where the flash has dried up; however, a female Kestrel was very active in the area which probably contributed to the lack of Buntings. We continued our walk up to the blind overlooking Wigborough Bay where there were a lot of Dunlins, Redshanks and 20+ Black-tailed Godwits with a few more Ruffs – all feeding on the mud exposed by the intentionally lowered water levels that provide ideal feeding areas for such species. We also had our first Smew of the day – a Red-head – as well as a lone Bewick’s Swan and 50+ Pintails. After lunch back at the car park, we drove to the Layer Breton causeway and, apart from the duck species we had seen previously, including another Red-headed Smew, we added little else to the day’s tally apart from some very dodgy looking ducks! This area has become a good bet for Bittern in recent winters, although not today. We then drove round to Abberton church to locate a flock of Scaup, nine birds having been present during the week, but to no avail. We did however find 17 Goosander – 10 males and seven females – a male Red-breasted Merganser and two Common Buzzards, and a few SOG members eventually located a single Corn Bunting. I would like to thank everybody who attended the meeting which made for a most enjoyable day out.

Ruff

Steve Fryett

SOG Field Meeting Brightlingsea River Colne

11th February 2017 Leader Steve Fryett

I first visited this venue a couple of years ago and thought how much it had to offer for bird watchers, particularly Grebes, so I booked a field meeting in 2017. There is much of a seaside resort feel to Brightlingsea with its open-air swimming pool, painted beach huts and sandy beach. Nine members assembled at the end of Promenade Way on a raw winter’s day with a thin layer of snow present. We started in front of the beach huts looking across to Cudmore country park on the opposite bank of the River Colne. Here we found 22 Skylarks feeding briefly before taking off and heading inland; these were